Control device for change speed gears of power driven vehicles



March 12, 1940. A. MAIER 2,193,733

CONTROL DEVICE FOR gamer-J SPEED GEARS OF POWER DRIVEN,VEHICLES vFiled Sept. 22; 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvenmr: aumi mawn March 12, 19406 A. MAIER CONTROL DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS OF POWER DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed Sept. 22, 1936 S Sheets-Sheet .2

A. MAIER March 12, 1940.

CONTROL DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS 0F PQWER DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed Sept. 22. 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s ffiw MOW,

m M M Patented Mar. 12, 1940 CON'lBbL DEVICE FOR CHANGE SPEED GEARS OF POWER DRIVEN VEHICLES Albert-Mailer, Friedrichshafen-on-the-Bodensee,

Germany, assignor to Zahnradhbrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengesellschaft, Frledrichsbafenon-the-Bodensee, Germany Application September 22, 1936, Serial No. 101,973

In Germany October '7, 1935 '4 Claims. '(01. 74-330 The invention relates 'to a control device for change speed gears of power driven vehicles of the kind wherein the speeds are selected'by means of a plurality of selector rods actuating striker rods, which selector rods are controlled by a common control lever, which is always moved in the same direction for putting into or out of action the individual speed, and in which the said control lever is coupled with the pedal lever o of the motor clutch by a linkage in such a manner that on engaging the motor clutch the desired speed is simultaneously put into action.

The object of the invention is to provide a gear of the above kind which will run as smooth- Referring to the drawing the control lever l is mounted in the usual manner in a frame 2 located under the cover of the gear box and is -associated with a speed selecting mechanism.

The control lever l isintegral withthe tube 3 5 which is adjustable transversely with regard to the selector rods and the striker rods and the corresponding selector otches 4. The tube 3 is provided with a 12m tudinal groove 5 and engages by means of a corresponding key a rock'- ing lever 8 turnably mounted between fixed bear- -ings 6 and I, so that the control lever l'can be moved by means of the rocking-lever 8. The tube Tto which the control lever l is axially movable within the bearings is fixed a and 1 is ly as possible, and with this object in view the invention provides at a separate point a stop for of the frame 2. Within the tube Sis a rod 10 the control lever of the speed gear in such a manon which is a spring H as shown in Fig. I. The her that in the idle run position of all the gear spring ll bears against discs 12 and 13 which parts, the motor clutch which has previously been are loosely mounted on the rod 10 and limited in disengaged in order to put out of action the. their movement in a'separating direction by the previously employed gear speed, is prevented specially formed ends of the tube Jandby suitfrom being re-engaged until the idle run condiable shoulders I! and 15 formed on the rod 10. tion of the gear has been cancelled. Therefore The rod II is provided at one end with grooves the gear is completely disengaged from the motor 16 conforming in number and Spacing with the during the idle run condition. selector notches 4 of the gate part of the frame In a preferred construction embodying the fea- 2. Connected to the rod ll is a suitable Bowden tures of the invention, a part of the frame, procontrol member or the like by means of which vided with selector notches corresponding to the the rod can be operated from the driver's seat. various positions of the control lever, is provided Engageable with the grooves are locking mem- V at a suitable point with a stop holding theconbers, for example spring-actuated balls I1,

trol lever in the required position whilst the gear mounted in the flxed hearing I. 1 parts are in the idle run positions. It will be understood that the tube 3 performs The accompanying drawings show a construca dual function. Through movement of the tube tion embodying the features of the invention, apin its path across the various selector rods the J plied to a gear having four forward speeds. gear control lever I is moved into a position op- Fig. 1 shows in elevation and partly in section posite one of the notches l in the frame. In any a motor clutch and an adjacent change speed such positiontlie lever l is p in Op a relagear provided with the improved control device. tion to engage the striker rod for a particular Figs. 1a and 1b are a sectional view and an end speed. Adjustment of the position of the tube 3 view respectively of Fig. 1. in its path is controlled by the driver through 40 Fig. 2 is a. top view to a larger scale of the gear. the rod II. The tube 3 is also rotatable within some parts being omitted for the sake of clear-' its bearings to move the gear control lever l in neSS- a direction longitudinally of the frame to move Fig. 3 shows a detail of the gear in sectional the selector rods'and the striker rods, respectiveelevation. f ly. 'As previously explained rotation of the tube Fig. 4 shows in sectional elevation the control 3 and actuation of the lever l is eflected-throughlever, its connection with the motor clutch pedal the arm I, the latter being connected to the lever and some adjacent parts. clutch pedal In of the vehicle.

Fig. 5 is a top view corresponding to Fig. 4. In the construction shown the control device Fig. 6 is a longitudinal side view of Fig. 2. acts upon striker rods 20, it and III which oper- 50 v Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and showing the mechanism for moving the control rod to the various speed-engaging positions, and

Fig. 8. is a part sectional view of part of Fig. 4, i;

but drawn to a larger scale than that figure.

ate the shiftable clutch parts of the change speed gearreferred to hereinafter.

Preferably the striker rods 20 and 30 are actuated by the main selector rods 50 and SI, re-

spectively.

' guided on the wall, of the housing of the change countershaft 23.

If desired, means may be provided for guiding the striker rods in a path longitudinal to the gear shafts. For example, the striker rod 40 may be speedgear.

,The gear illustrated in the drawings possesses a driven shaft 2| adapted to be coupled to the motor driving the vehicle and with 'a coaxial shaft 22 which is thedriving shaft,- and is also provided with a reverse driving shaft 24, and -a Upon the shaft 2| is fixed a gear wheel 25 which meshes with a gear wheel 26 fixed to the counter-shaft 23 and is used for the so-called constant transmission. The drivg shaft 22 carries the various other gear Wheels, namely the loose gear wheel 21 of the first speed, and the fixed gear wheels 28, 29 and 3|. The gear wheel 29 is used for the second speed and the gear wheel 3| for the third speed.-

The gear wheel 21 meshes with a gear wheel -32 fixed to the counter-shaft 23, whilst the counterwheels 33 and 34 which mesh with the gear wheels 29 and 3| are loosely mounted upon the counter-shaft 23 and are providedwith couplin teeth 35 and 36 respectively by means of which they can be individually coupled with their shaft by the aid of a clutch part 31 slidable'upon the shaft by means of a spline and groove connection. Between the shaftZI and the .gearwheel 21 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 22 -a clutch part 38 which can be brought into engagement members are provided. with. frictional surfaces which serve in the usual" manner for s'ynchronising the parts to be engaged before the actual engagement.

in the one or the other direction, synchronisation isflrst effected in known manner, where- I uponflnal engagement takes place 'withthe coupling teeth of the part to be coupled. -These' details are showrrin-F'ig. 3. The rocking lever.8, which is fixed to the shaf of the control lever I, is c'onnectedby means.

of a pivoted link a with the pedal III of the motor clutch II, -I2. The pedal I0 isfixed to ashaft I3 which latter carries a lever I4 acting DOn the movable clutch partIZ, 4

The control device consists of a frame 2 arf 'ed on the casing in which are guided the- .IIGCESSBJ-Y selector rods.

If, forexampl'e, in the ear illustrated having four forward speeds-and one reverse speed, the striker rod 20 for the speeds I andIV and the striker'rod 38 for the peeds II and D1 are to be moved at one time in one direction and at another time in another direction, then the control lever I, influencing the selector ,rods 50 and 5|, is moved constantly;

- only in one direction. 1 A similar movement is vided for this purpose. 7

also given to the control lever I for engaging the reverse speed, the striker rod 40-be1ng pro- In the selector rods and 5| are arranged by' means of the locking member 11.

The clutch parts 31 and 38am! the-cooperating coupling The clutch parts consist, in fact, each of two parts which are heldytogether by locking members 45.' The outer part isguided. y means of coupling teeth '46 in an axial direction; so that, on moving the clutch parts either auxiliary selectorrod 55.

' suitable notches 58 and 59 into which the control lever I can be inserted. An auxiliary rod 52- is provided which is connected to the .rod 58 through the medium of a double lever 54 pivotable around a bolt 53. auxiliary rod. 55 is connected to the selector In the same way, an'

rod 5| through the medium of a double lever 51 pivotable about a bolt 56 carried by the frame.

The auxiliary rod 52 is provided with a notch for the reception of the. control lever I and the auxiliary rod 55 is provided with a similar notch 6|. a

'Transverselyof the selector rods 5llfand 5| and the auxiliary. rods 52 and 55 extends a portion of the frame 2 which is formed with control recesses or guides which are arranged corresponding to the particular control positions, that is to say, to the positions of the control lever for engaging the various speeds shown in Fig. 2 bythe numerals I,-II, III, IV. N 3

indicates the idle run position and R the revers speed position.

The mechanism] operates in thefollowing manner:

Assuming one of the speeds to ac in use, then, if the driver desires to change to another speed, it is first necessaryto disengage themotor clutch II, I2 by depressing the pedal I0 whereby the,

control lever I is displaced. from the notch 4 pertaining to the particular speed in use at the time. The rod 1|] is then displaced across the selector rods until the control lever I comes opposite the gate notch corresponding to the desired speed, inwhich'position the lever I is secured When, now, the driver releases the pedal ID to allow .the clutch to re-engage the control lever I will simultaneouslyenter into therespective notch, whereby the selector -rod, appertaining to such notch, be shifted to engage the new speed.

To obtain the first speed, the gear control lever I must be brought into the recess 58 of the selector rod 58 in the path of the notch-I -of the gate frame 2 so that, on rotation of the lever I i-nto that-notch; the selector rod 50 will be moved rea'rwardly. With this movement the clutch member'38 (Fig. 1) is brought into en- 'gagement' with the gear- 21 so that powertransmission takes place from the driving shaft 2| through the gear wheel 25, gearwheel 26, counter-'shaft23and via gearwheels 32 and 21 to the-driven shaft 22. I For changing to the second-speed the control lever I must be brought into the recess 6| of the On'moving'the lever I into the -'notch II the rod 55 is, moved rear- -wardly.and1simultaneously by means ofthe two? armed lever 51, thefselector rod 5| is actuated "to displace the striker rod 30 thereby and causing the-clutch part 31 to engage with the gear wheel 33 and power transmission takes place "from the. driving shaft 2| via the gear wheels 25, 26, the counter-shaft 23 and-via.the

gear wheels'33--29 to'the driven shaft 2|.

To-engage the third speed the control le' ve'r is moved into the recess 59 of theselector rod' 5| and then rotated soas to enter the notch III,

whereby the clutch part 31 comes into engage 'ment'with the gear wheel 34 so that now transmission will be efiected from the shaft 2| via the gear wheels 25, 26, the countershaft 2'3 and via the gear wheels 34, 3| to the driven shaft 22. Fourth speed or direct drive is obtained by setting the control lever I in the recess ill of the auxiliary selector rod 5| and then rotating the lever into the notch IV whereby, by means of the double-armed lever 54, the selector rod 50 actuates the striker rod 20 to cause the clutch part 38 to engage with the gear wheel 25 so that the driven shaft 22 will be coupled directly with the driving shaft 2|. For the position of the control lever I corresponding to the idle run-condition prevented from backward movement into the raised position, are shown in Figs. 4 and ti.

In order to lock the control lever I in the idle run position, a spring-loaded catch bolt I1 is provided; which on moving the lever I from the idle run position shown in Fig. 4 'will yield readily, but is sufliciently loaded to prevent accidental movement of the control lever I from the said idle run position.

The catch bolt I1 is carried in a bore 80 formed in the control lever I which bore 80 isnarrowed' towards one end. The rounded head of the bolt I'I projects through this narrowed end under the action of a spring- 82 which bears at one end thereof againsta collar I8 formed on the bolt I1 and at the other end against the screw-plug member 8| which is screwed into the 'end of the bore opposite the narrow end thereof. The spring 82 surrounds the spindle I9 of the bolt I1, which spindle is guided in the member 8|. I

A recess I a is provided in the stop I5 into which the catch bolt I! of the control lever I flts.

I claim:

1. In a power-driven vehicle the subcombination of a motor clutch having a movable clutch member for engaging and disengaging the clutch;

a lever operable by the driver for moving said lever is moved in the opositedirection to engage the motor clutch, the said control lever is simultaneously moved to engage 'a speed; a single fixed stop member for holding said control lever in the'idle run position of the gear in'a position condition of said gear; and means for locking tion of a motor clutchhaving a movable clutch member for engaging and disengaging the clutch;

a lever operable by the driverfor moving said movable clutch member; a change speed gear having a plurality of selector rods for putting into and out of action individual speeds; a common'control lever 'engageable with said selector rods; means connecting said lever to said driveroperated lever whereby, when the said driveroperated lever is moved to disengage the clutch, said control lever is simultaneously moved to disengage a speed, and when said driver-operated lever is moved in the opposite direction to engage the motor clutch, the said control lever is simul-.

taneously moved to engage a speed; a single fixed stop member for holding said control lever in the idle run position of the gear in a position corresponding to the disengaged clutc position of said driver-operated lever, where re-engagement of the clutchis prevented in said idle run condition of said gear; and a spring-actuated catch bolt for locking said control lever in said position.

3. In a power-driven vehicle, the subcombina tion of: a motor clutch having a movable clutch member for engaging and disengag g the clutch; a driver-operated lever connected to said movable clutch member; a frame; achange speed gear carried by said frame; a plurality of selector rods'mounted in said frame, said rods being operatively associated with said speed gear;

a movable common control lever selectively engageable with said selector rods; means operatively connecting said control lever. to said driver-- operated lever whereby when said driver-oper- I mounted in saidframe above said gears, said.

gate having a series ofgu ide notches therein corresponding respectively to the speed-engaging positions of said control lever, said notches serving to guide the movement of saidcontrol lever; and a projection onv said gate adjacent the idle run position of said control lever, said projection serving as a stop to hold said lever in a position corresponding to disengaged position of said clutch; and means forlocking' said control lever in said position.

'4. In a power driven vehicle in combination:

a clutch; a change-speed gear having a plurality of speed positions and an idle ru'n position; means operatively connecting said clutch to said changespeed gear such that, on disengagement of said clutcli? a speed is disengaged and, on engagement of said clutch, a speed is engaged; a stop device carried by said gear in such a" manner as positively to prevent movement of said connecting means in a clutch-engaging direction when said gear is'in the idle run position; and a. speed preselective device associated with said gear for selecting aspeed to be engaged whilst another speed is still in engagement. 

